Ophthalmic mounting



v0.123, 1934. CQCQZZENS f 1,977,822

PHTHALMIC MOUNTI NG Filed oct. 22, 1932 v INVENTOR Czarfgg 0. ('ozzens.

Patented Oct. 23, 1934 PATENT oFElcE 1,977,822 OPHTHALMIC MOUNTINGCharles O. Cozzens, Southbridge, Mass., assignory to American OpticalCompany, Southbridge,

Mass., setts a voluntary association of `Massachu- Application October22, 1932, Serial No.'639,070

5 claims. (o1. sia- 45) This invention* relates to improvements in meansfor supporting ophthalmic lenses or the like before the eyes of thewearer and to an improved method of arranging and'assembling saidsupporting means.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide anophthalmic mounting having its Ilens holding means positioned inhorizontal streamline relation with each other above the useful field ofvision in combination with an improved bridge member having adjustablemeans" for positioning and supportingthe said mounting in desiredrelation with the eyes of the Wearer and arranged with the lenses insuch a manner that the said adjustable means are substantially invisibleand inconspicuous when on the face of the wearer. 1

`Another object of the invention is to provide an improved bridge memberhaving supporting and attaching means for attachment-to the lensesvabove the useful field of vision `and adjustable lens, guard and archsupporting portions which may be adjusted independently of each other tothe facial requirements of the wearer. l

Another object is to provide improved means and method of arranging andfitting the mounting to the wearer so that-the various adjustableelements of the supporting bridge member twill be substantiallyinvisible and inconspicuous when in assembled relation with the lensesand in position of use on the face of the wearer.

'Another object` is to provideimproved means and method of attaching andfitting the lens supporting means to the lenses and ofieasing off therigidity of the connections to said lenses.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the 'followingdescription taken in connection with'the accompanying drawing, and itwill be apparent that changes and modifications in the arrangement andconstruction of the parts and methods shown and described may be madewithout departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in theaccompanying claims. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to thelexact details of construction, arrangements of parts and methods shownand rdescribed as the preferred forms only have been shown by way ofillustration. e

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. I is a front view of an ophthalmic mounting embodying ytheinvention;

Fig. II is a partial perspective view of Fig. I;

Fig. III is a sectional view taken on line III- III of Fig. I;

Fig. 1V is. an yenlarged fragmentary plan view of Fig. I; and f Fig. Vis a'sectionalview takenon line V-V of Fig. IV. l i

lVIuch difflcultyhas beeny encountered in the pastin providing asuitable bridge member for an ophthalmic mounting having its lensholding means or straps tted and attached to the lenses above the usefulfield of vision. The main difficulty-has beenv in providing suitableadjustable supporting means for-the `Various parts of the bridge memberand of attaching the said bridge member to the lens holding means orstraps so that the adjustable parts thereof may be fitted to the facialrequirements of the wearer and yet be positioned where they will besubstantially invisible and inconspicuous when in use.

4 It therefore isone of the primaryobjects of the invention to provide abridge member having suitable separately adjustable supporting means andan improved method of adjusting the said means to the facialrequirements of the wearer and for simultaneously locating them at aposition whereinthey will be substantially invisible and inconspicuouswhen in use. Y

Referring kmore `particularly to the drawing wherein similar referencecharacters designatel corresponding parts throughout, the deviceembodyingthe invention comprises a relatively thin and resilient centralarch portionl having outwardly tapering and rearwardly extending endportions 2 terminating in relatively rigid downwardly extendingadjustable loop portions 3. The said loop portions 3 lie substantiallyin a vertical plane and turn forwardly at 4 for attachment at 90 5 tovertically extending adjustable supports 6. The supports 6 are providedadjacent their tops with forwardly extending portions 7 attached at 8 tothe lens holding means .9.y The said supports 6 are bent rearwardly atV`10 from the vertical plane and are looped forwardly at 11 in the hori-`Zontal plane and in a direction inwardly ofthe ends of the arch 1 toproduce forwardly extending terminal nose guard attaching means 13 towhich the guards 14 are pivotally attached at l5.

The supports 6 are shaped to lie directly adjacent the nasal sides andin the rear of the peripheral edges 16 of the lenses 17 of the mountingand are adapted to be shielded from view by said edges when the mountingis observed from in front. It is apparent that the relationbetween thesupporting portions 6 and the edges 16 of the lenses might be changedslightly in someinstances during lthe adjustment of the mounting to thefacial requirements of the wearer and in view of this the various loopportions 11 are for thepurposeofadjusting.;

the nose guards 14 in any desiredjdirection independently of the arch 1,loopportions or portions-2 6. Attention is directed to the fact that theloop portions 3 and 11 extend rearwardlyof .the `plane of the lenses andare adapted to t in close relation with the nose of the wearer. loops tobe substantially invisible when on the face of the wearer and providesrelativelyjlong adjustable .elements for positioning relation With theface.

The lens holding means 9 are attached-to ar specially formed seat l18 onthe 'lenses 17 byv attachinggmeans 19 such `as a'screw,l solder r4orother means 'positioned in anv openingy lformed in thel lens. adjacentthe seat.I The vsaid attaching means f is :secured to 4rspaced'dependingportions 20 on thel holding means 9.l The vsaiddependingportions 20 areformedon the ends of the portions 21 of albifurcated support vand extendbelow the longitudinal axes A-A of said portions; The-axes-of saidl eportions are adapted-,to lieon a line-substantially parallel with thehorizontal meridian' of l the -lens and onan'angle other than normalrelative -to the plane of .the'seat "18 onsaid lens. Thebase -portion 22'of the bifurcated-support vis provided'with iperipheralengagingextensions 23`and 24 which lie inl a' plane 'substantiallyparallel -w'ith'- theplane -of the'seat 18 'and'fintersect thelongitudinal axes A-A1. of the portions -2l' on an angle other thannormal. A spring 25'is securedtothe-base22 betweenthe portions21' by'falprojectiony 26;l The said spring extends outwardly ofthe upperextension`23'and'provides aresilient peripheral engaging'member which'isadapted to urge the llowerextension 24 yinto engagement withtheedge ofthe seat 18'during the luse of-themountingr The -tension' of'the spring'25- is `controlledl byfadjusting theextension 23towardv and' `away-fromthe Ledge of thele'ns; The Aposition of the-strapon the lens is vvari-edbyadjustment of 'the extension- -24relati've tothe edge'of the lens.This permits the-portions 21to'be moved about' the connecting-means 19as acenter and be placed 'in' a plane substantially parallelwith thehorizontal axis-ofthe lens tolproduce a streamline effect--acrosssaidlens:

' Th'edenses 17 adjacent their -temporalsides `are provided with*aspecially formed attaching'seat`2'7 to which the lens holdingl means"'28 l' is `attached toA provide -aj connection for eachi temple lor`side 29 ofthe mounting.l The-seat 27 liesv on an` angle otherthan/normal relative to the longitudinal axis orthe lens andl isadapted' to support theportions 30 of the holding means 28 inrhorizontal streamline relation with theportions'21'of the `holding means9. The lens holdingjmeans 28is substantially identical inA structureto'that of the holding means 9. It is adjustedand'fitted to the lensseat 2'7` in a similar manner and isiprovided'with a spring member 31for easingoir'the connection to the lens: Attention is directed to the'fact that the relatively ythincentral arch portion 1 of the bridgemember may 'be' adaptedto absorb shocks `and Slight adjustments in thisdirection and'.

This causes the saidj the parts indesired strains on the lenses in adirection transversely to the planes of said lenses and that theresilient means 25 and 31 of the lens holding means 9 and 28 are adaptedto absorb shocks and strains in the direction of the planes of thelenses. The said resilient means 25 vand 31 alsoprovidemeans forobviating loosenessk and playiin the connections to the lenses.

The procedure of forming and iitting the mounting to the face of thewearer is as follows:

The tting of lenses to their mountings, and adjusting these mountings tothe facial requirements In forming andi ifltting applicants-.mountingeach lens is rstisurfaoedr toy theprescriptii/fe:re-L` quirements ofl"thef patient. Itss-'o'pti'calaxisband. prescriptiveI elements. 'arethenzelocatedzland."laid outupon the lens. A. The shape =ofi th'elens:is then. carefullylaid out in'relati'onrto-.the optical properties` ofthe lens -andfat '.thesameltimefa: speciali shapedy seat is provided.for ithe mounting-.1: The lens is th'eniplaced-1inA alens cutterandcarefully cut to shape. It is then placed in anfedgingimachine andvcarefully edged'to-sh'apef This .locatingand xi-ng of. v'the `lens seatSis ai very important pro-1. cedure requiring; expert 'skill and.accuracy as the lens -must be shaped vaboutta:v predetermined.'cen;- terandthe connectinghzzone -thereon :formed 1in'. suchl'a -positio'nfasi1to si-ipporttheklensfinvaccurate prescriptive c relation` i with?y theeyes" The; lens holding :means l:or tstrapfs then ttedrtorthe.fspecially'shapedzoneiandfto 'the1surfaces:of-the-. lens by -bending 1the 1 edge andffsurfa'ce engaging;.pori: tions to -thelshapes.required-.i The locationrofz1th`e connecting opening ina` the lens`iisfthen :.deter-` min'edoy markedt andsdrilled c; at the desired-:disetance fromsthe'edgerof the .seatxz Theistrapzisfagaii'r fitted totheconnectingiseat, and 1in:the case of the'screw-.connectiontotheflens; isfadjustedto obtaiirexactfalignmentfof:the strap` connecting vopenings ,withz the .opening-.intthefle'na Theconnecting screwi is.,thenf, inserted; in: the alignedfopenings and; thefstrapcheckedifor aligner ment of .parts andy triedfztodeterminesftheften.- sion relativefto theledge offthelens. f If theparts are not improper `relation. :the f screw'` is sremoved, the iinalAaltering adjustments made, t anda; the mounting 1 then. Vpermanentlysecured in' fixed .relation with the lens. j

In regulating the tension, oft the peripheral engaging springmembers,.25 and-.3 1 .inzeither fcase; care must be Ntaken that f the.springfis so- :posi-A tioned. that it is. freefto. flexf-in-.eithendirection; that is, towards or away from the edge -ofethe lens. Thisresult is fobtainediby adjustingithe portions .23..sol that theybear.adjacent .theinfree 1 ends against the springs. This..causes.theunderlyingsportionsof Athe .springs .tomove to afspaced relation with.the lens.. edge and. with. the inner surface of the portions 23, asillustratedV inthe drawing. This provides resilient means for abiso ltoits use.

sorbing `shocks and strains land for veliminating looseness and play ofthe connecting means on the lens.

In al1-instances the finished mounting-must be accurately fitted totheface of the wearer prior This fitting is very important and is one ofthe factors requiring great skill and technical training. Extreme caremust be taken that the lenses are supported in accurate prescribedrelation with` the eyes, particularly lenses having prismatic orcylindrical corrections which require true axial relation with the eyesor lenses of the bifocal or trifocal type having different focal fieldswhich must be placed in accurate relation with the eyes.v These lensesarevery expensive and great care must be taken that they are not brokenduring the forming or fitting of the mounting. In adjusting the mountingto the facial requirements of the wearer the lensesvare rst adjusted toa position wherein the distance between their centers are equal to thedistance between the pupils ofthe eyes.V This adjustment is accomplishedby bending the upper portions of the depending members 6 and also byadjustment of the loop portions 3 sidewise. This adjustment in someinstances will move the lower portions of the depending members 6 fromtheir desired relation with the edges 16 of the lenses and therebyrequire alteration of said relation. Care must be taken that thisadjustment does not change the adjusted distance between the centers ofthe lenses. The nose guards are then adjusted to fit the wearers noseand to support the centers of the lenses in aligned relation with thepupils of the eyes. This adjustment is accomplished by bending the loopportions l1 to raise or lower or adjust the guards in or out orsidewise. In forming this adjustment great care must be taken that theguards are positioned so that they support the centers of the lenses inline with straight ahead vision of the eyes and that the pressurethereof on the nose will not cause them to cut in the flesh and hurt thewearer. Attention is then directed to the arch portion 1 to determineits height and general relation with the nose. If it is at an improperheight or if not in an accurate position in or out with respect to thenose the said loop portions 3 are bent up or down or in or out in adirection normal to the plane of the lenses to a position wherein thearch is located in desired relation with the nose. In forming thisadjustment care is taken that it does not alter the adjusted distancebetween the centers of the lenses. It is to be understood that thefitting adjustments are made only after the lens holding means have beenproperly mounted and tted to the lenses.

When the general fitting adjustments have been completedthe variousloops 3 and l1 and portions 6 are carefully observed when on the face ofthe wearer to determine if they are located at such a position as to beas inconspicuous as possible. Slight alterations necessary to accomplishthis result are made and the mounting is then ready for use.

It is apparent that the various adjustable elements, when in the handsof a person skilled in the art, provide means whereby a wide range ofadjustments may be accomplished and that a single mounting may beadjusted to the requirements of most individuals. This type of mountingrequires only a small investment on the part of the dispenser as itobviates the necessity of having to keep on hand a large stock ofdifferent sizes as has been usual in the past. The mountingovercomes"most of the difficulties of theprior art and is durableandlinconspicuous in use. The

resilienty connections provide novel means of absorbing shocks andstrains on the lenses and of obviating the usual looseness and play ofthe conf- 'across the lenses and the mounting in general is constructedto be' ideal both from the standpoint ofdesign and utility. From the`foregoing description it will be seen thatI have provided simple,efficient and economical means and methods of obtaining all of theobjects and advantages of the invention.

Having described my invention I claim: l. An` ophthalmic mountingcomprising alpai'r 'of lenses each having a denitely formed attachingseat-on the nasal side thereof and connected by a bridge member attachedto lens holding means mounted on said seats, the said bridge memberbeing comprised of a relatively resilient central arch portion havingrelatively rigid rearwardly curved portions which are loopedsubstantially in the vertical plane and turned forwardly, a pair ofsupport members secured intermediate their ends one to each of theforwardly extending portions of the loops and having a portion adjacentone of their ends extending forwardly and attached to the lens holdingmeans and a portion adjacent their opposite ends extending rearwardly toa loop which turns forwardly substantially in the horizontal plane andterminates in nose guard attaching means, theA said support membersbeing adapted to lie behind the peripheral edges of the lenses on thenasal sides thereof when in use.

2. An ophthalmic mounting comprising means for holding a pair of lenses,said means connected by a bridge member having a central arch portionhaving rearwardly curved portions which are looped substantially in thevertical` plane and turned forwardly, a pair of support membersassociated intermediate their ends one with each forward terminus of theforwardly extending por tions of the loops and having a portion adjacentone of their ends extending forwardly and associated with a lens holdingmeans and a portion adjacent their opposite ends extending rearwardly toa loop which turns forwardly substantially in the horizontal plane andterminates in nose guard attaching means, the said support member beingadapted to liel behind the peripheral edges of the lenses on the nasalsides thereof, by bending the support members to said positions.

3. An ophthalmic mounting comprising means for holding a pair of lenses,said means connected by a Abridge member having a central arch portionwith rearwardly curved portions which are ,looped substantially in thevertical plane and turned forwardly, a pair of support membersassociated intermediate their ends with each forward terminus of theforwardly extending portions of the loops, the portion above said loopextending upwardly above said loop and associated with a lens holdingmeans, and the portion below said loop extending downwardly below saidloop and rearwardly to a loop which turns forwardly substantially in thehorizontal plane and terminates in a nose guard attaching means, and a'nose guard secured to said nose guard attaching means.

4. An ophthalmic mounting comprising means for holding a pair of lenses,said means having a portion for fitting over the edge of the lens and aportion for fitting over the face tof the lens and a leaf spring 'memberheld on the lens side of theedge portion, one end of said extendingportions of the loops and yhaving a portion adjacent one of their endsassociated with a lens holding means and a portion adjacent rtheiropposite ends extending rearwardly to va loop which turns forwardlysubstantially in the horizontal plane and terminating in nose guardattaching means, and a nose guard secured to each of said nose guardattaching means.

tions.

termas 5. An ophthalmic mounting comprising means for holding a pair oflenses, saidmeans connected by a bridge member having a central archportion having rearwardly curved portions which are looped and turnedforwardly, main supporting portions extending upwardly and downwardlyywith respect to each of the forwardly extending portions of the loops,said upwardly extending portions having a portion adjacent their upperAendsextending forwardly and associated with a til lens holding meansand said downwardly extending portions having a portion adjacent theirlower` ends extending rearwardly to a loop which turns forwardly andterminates in a nose guard supporting portion, the said main supportingportions being adapted to lie behind the pernpheral edges of the lenseson the nasal sides thereof by bending the said main supporting portionsto said posi- CHARLES O. COZZENS.

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